Mineral washing and separating apparatus.



PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905 J. H. LANGASTBR. MINERAL WASHING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION I'ILED FEB. 17,1898- .4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED 001?. 24, 1905.

J. H. LANCASTER. MINERAL: WASHING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 17,1898.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

J. H. LANCASTER. MINERAL WASHING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS.

ATPPLIOATION FILED FEB. 17,1898.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Auem

WYwauet No. 802,899. PATENTED 00124, 1905. J. H. LANCASTER.

MINERAL WASHING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 189B.

4 SEEETS-SKBET 4.

JAMES H. LANCASTER, OF NEW YORK, N.

lVllNERAL WASHING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed February 17, 1898. Serial No. 670,632.

To all whom, it natty concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMns H. LANCASTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improved Mineral Washing and Separating Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

The subject of this invention is an improved washing and separating apparatus, which, although adapted for washing and separating various materials, is illustrated and described herein as an apparatus for the treatment of placer and other material for washing and separating gold.

The invention also contemplates the reuse of the water employed in the operation by repassing it over the washing and separating devices. In connection with the apparatus means are provided for thawing frozen material to be treated thereby and also for maintaining the water required in the Washing operation at an antifreezing temperature.

The object of the invention is to provide an eflicient apparatus of this description that is not only compact and simple and can be op-- erated by hand, but which can also be set up and taken apart and when taken apart can be packed to be conveniently portable.

To these and other useful ends the invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved gold washing and se 'iarating apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the construction disclosed in Fig. 1. Fig. 4189. plan View of an apparatus to be used in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 for heating the placer material and water. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the-apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a modified construction. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan of a modilieation of the riffles. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the same on the line 19 19 of Fig. 8.

lmaccordance with the principle of this invention construct a gold washing and separating apparatus consisting, essentially, of a vibratory rifli e-surface and superposed screen with a provision for causing water to flow over the screen and riflie-surface and for transferring the water between the ends of the apparatus to produce a continuous operation. Provision is also made to thaw frozen material and to promote the general efficiency and utility of the apparatus. In the construction illustrated the screen and rifl'les vibrate and the pan is separate therefrom, the water flowing into one end of the pan from one end of the screen and riflle-surface and being transferred between the opposite ends of the same by a suitable pump. hen working some kind of placer material or pulp, it is found equally desirable to dispense with the rifllebars on the bed of the pan and rock the material rearwardly over the burlap covered with heavy coarsely-woven wire-cloth or perforated metal. The gold and concentrates are then arrested and caught in the interstices.

52 and 53 indicate the supporting-legs, which are suitably braced, legs 53 being provided with upper extensions 54 to support the hopper 36. The said hopper is vibratory, being pivotally supported by lugs 36, resting in notches 54 in the upper ends of extensions 54:, while its downward swing is limited by stops 36 that contact with the arms 69, secured on the extensions 5a. The hopper is vibrated through the medium of projections 36 thereon and in the path of projections 7 F on the ends of the actuating-levers 74. The supply-opening of the hopper is situated at one side thereof t'. a, that contiguous to the actuating-levers. The said supply-opening is located adjacent to the delivery-spout 71 of the pump supplying water to the screen and riflie-surface, so that the stream of water and material from the hopper meet before falling upon the screen. plete and thorough breaking up of the placer material, and consequently the most efficient washing and separating action. A trough 55 is located beneath, its head 56 being closed by an upright wall, while its lower end is open. This trough is pivotally supported from the legs by links 57, having cross-bars 58 to enter notches 59 in the plates 60 secured on the under side of the trough. The screen 61 is situated within the trough and is snitablysupported from the upper edges thereof. The

tail of the screen projects beyond and over the tail of the rifiie-surface, as shown in Fig. 1.

Situated below the trough and secured to the legs is the pan 62 in an inclined position and of the general contour illustrated with its depressed end at the head of the machine, while its other end extends some distance be This insures acom- 4 yondthe end of the screen 61, as shown. The said pan 62 is provided at intervals with transverse screens or perforated plates that screen the water passing therethrongh. The compartments formed by these plates 67 may also be utilized for settling purposes.

Upon the end of the pan 62 there is a mercury-trough 63, while adjacent to the end is the cross-bar 64, that serves as a rest for the screen-chute 65, extending from the tail end of the riflie and screen 61 over the end portion of the pan 62 and terminating above the mercury-trough 63. The screen-chute is provided with lateral and rear extensions 66, having notches 66 at their upper ends to hook upon lugs 55 upon trough 55, affording a pivotal and adjustable connection. The screenchute is provided with a transverse pocket 65, situated below the lower end of trough 55, and into which the water and material from the trough pass, the tail end of the screen 61 delivering the tailings below said pocket.

The material and water passing into the pocket 65 can fall direct into the pan or can pass to the tail end of pan 62 by means of two inclined troughs 62 and 62, containing amalgam plates. The upper trough 62 is supported at its upper end portion by projections or cross-bar 52 upon the legs 52 and notched plates upon the trough, its lower end being supported by cross-rod 62 hung by upwardlybent ends engaging perforations in the legs 53, the said rod 62 engaging any one of the notches 62 in the lower edges of plates secured to and depending below the pan 62, whereby its inclination is adjustable. The lower amalgam-trough 62 is suitably supported at its upper end from the lower end of trough 62, while its lower end rests upon one of the transverse screen-plates 67. Two of the braces between the legs are extended a little distance beyond the same at the head of the machine, while from the upper extensions 5a of the legs 53 are the previously-referred-to arms 69. A pump is supported by these arms and extensions, having its supplypipe 70,with strainer-head, extending into the depressed and deepened end of the pan 62, while its delivery-spout 71 overhangs the upper end of the screen 61.

Means are provided for operating the pumppiston and the vibrating, washing, and separating devices, and in Figs. 1 to 3 one embodiment is shown, which consists of an uprising bracket A, to the upper end of which are pivoted the levers 74. The pump pistonrod B is pivoted between the inner end of these levers 74:, so as to operate the pump from the vibration of the levers. pend from the bracket A and are provided with a plurality of openings D, in any one of which one end of the toggle-lever E can be fastened, the other end being pivoted to the trough 55. Links F are pivoted at their ends to the inner ends of the levers 74 and to the Hangers C deknees of the toggle-levers, and it is noted that for every vibration of the pumppiston there are two vibrations of the washing and separating devices. It will also be noted that the rear ends of the toggle-levers are ad justable to control the extent of vibration of the washing and separating devices. and, furthermore, that the forward legs of the toggle-lever are longest to impart a more pronounced and effective vibratory and jogging movement to said parts. The lugs 36 are situated to be raised by the extremities 74? of the levers 7 L when the pump-piston is raised, whereby the hopper is raised for every vibration of the lever, and the material being fed therefrom in consequence thereof and meeting the stream of water from the pump is thoroughly separated and falls upon the vibratory screen in a desired condition.

The material to be washed and separated being regularly delivered by the vibratory hopper and falling upon the screen and through the screen to the riflie-surface, is worked toward the tail end thereof by the vibration of these parts in an obvious manner. The coarse tailings pass over the tail end of the screen 61 to the screen-chute 65 and into and over the mercury-trough 63, the latter catching the nuggets and particles of gold carried thereby. The material and Water from the riffle-surface pass into the pocket 65 and thence to and across the amalgam-troughs 62 and 62 to the upper end of the pan 62, it being understood that material passing through the lower portion of the screen 65 also enters the pan 62. The water accumulates in the pan 62 and is pumped to the upper end of the washing and separating devices by the same operation that vibrates the latter.

The transverse screen-plates 67 arrest dirt and other particles, while the strainer-head acts further to deliver the water to the pump free from impurities. It is understood, of course, that a layer of burlap can be placed beneath the rifHe-bars and also in the bottom of the pan to arrest concentrates that pass the riffles. I

The extent of the vibration of the riffles and screen, as well as the inclination thereof, can be nicely regulated by the notched plates in connection with the links 57 and their cross-bars 58.

Figs. t and 5 show a construction for heatingthe water in the pan 62 and also the material to be treated. It consists ofa supporting-frame and rectangular casing having a furnace 85, the flue 86 of which leads to a stack at the other end. The pan 62 extends across the stack end, its bottom conveniently forming the top wall of the flue. Fitting closely within the pan 62 is a removable pan 62 provided with the obstructions referred to. This pan 62 can be removed to empty the sediment or other material accumulating therein. Extending between the pan 62 and the other end of the casing is a receptacle 87, whose bottom also conveniently forms the top wall of the flue. At the front end of the casing is another receptacle 88, having a removable cover, a valved outlet 89, and partitions 90, having valve-ports 91. Iti's seen that water in the pan is readily heated, while frozenmaterial can be placed in the receptacle 87 to be thawed and can be easily shoveled therefrom and into the screen 31. Water heated in the receptacle 88 can be conveyed to the drill or otherwise used, while said receptacle can be used for heating or cooking, as is obvious.

As before stated, the washing and separating apparatus can be used for treating various materials, although it has been illustrated and described as a gold washing and separating apparatus, and therefore this invention is not limited in its application to the treatment of any particular material, and I do not confine myself to such in the claims.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown other means for vibrating thehopper and the washing and separating devices which obviate the employment of the vibratory operating-lever and comprise a crank-shank G, mounted in bearings H, extending from a pump-cylinder and having the balance-wheels I and handles J. The lever K has a slotted end portion L, through which the crank passes, while its other end is pivoted to the hopper 36. The piston rod B is pivoted to the lever K, and the hop per is provided with two lugs 36", that embrace the arm 69, allowing a little play between said parts to permit the vibration of the hopper, it being noted that the fulcrum of the lever K shifts between its pivotal connections with said hopper and the piston-rod B. Mounted upon the pump-cylinder is a transverse shaft M, provided at its ends with crank-disks N and O, between which and the knees of the toggle-levers the links F extend. One of these crank-disks O is a gear-pinion intermeshing with a gear-wheel P, carried by one of the balance-wheels I. In this way it is seen that I produce the required vibration of the hopper and the separating devices, but employ rotary driving means in lieu of the vibrating operating-lever above described. By shifting the position of the toggles on either side a wiggling motion is given to the pan.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a modification of the riffles, which consists in forming a space between the ends of alternate rifiies-bars, as shown at R, whereby the material is caused to pass in a circuitous course between the end of the pan. At the end of the rifIle-bar, next to the space R, is a lug S, that forms a pocket along the upper side of the bar, it being noted that the upper side is inclined, as shown. In

this way a pocket is formed for the reception of mercury, and the material that is not fed across the rifiie-bars is worked to one side, and this passes from one pocket to another until all the free gold and concentrates are caught.

When it is desired to pack and transport this apparatus, the members of the supporting-frame are removed from the pan and detached from each other, the hopper, screen, riflle-bars, and handles detached, and the pan and riifle-trays and screens secured on a skid or otherwise loaded on a conveyance for the compact reception of the other parts, the whole being held by v a covering or other means.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In goldseparating apparatus, the combination with a supporting-frame, of an inclined rifi le-tray adiustably suspended for variable longitudinal vibration, a removable upper screen within and carried by said rifHetray and having its screen-surface extending from the head to the tail thereof, an independently and vertically vibratable hopper delivering to the head of the screen and having an adjustable gate-controlled opening, and devices including a common actuating provision, located closely contiguous to the hopper and head of the tray for operating the latter and positively and vertically jarring the hopper.

2. In gold-separating apparatus, the combination with a supporting-frame, of an inclined rifl'le-tray adjustably suspended for variable longitudinal vibration, a removable upper screen within and carried by said riffle-tray and. having its screen-surface extending from the head to the tail thereof, a stationary water-pan below the tray, an independently and vertically vibratable hopper delivering to the head of the screen, and a common actuating mechanism on the supporting-frame closely contiguous to the hopper and head of the tray, and comprising tray-operating devices, direct hopper-contact means for positively and. vertically arring the hopper and provision for causing the circulation of water to and over the screen.

3. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of the vibrating rillle-surface and superposed screen within the same and extending from the head to the tail thereof, a pan situated below the rifl'le, an inclined screen secured at its upper end to said vibratory parts and extending at a different angle from the tail end of the same over the contiguous end of said pan, and means for transferring the water from the pan to the head of the screen.

4. In gold-separating apparatus, the combination of the vibratory ril'ile-surface, a stationary pan below the same, and an inclined screen positively engaging both the lower portion of a vibratory part and the contiguous portion of the pan so that said screen changes its angle of inclination as the riflesurface vibrates, one of the engagements of said screen being detachable.

5. In gold-separating apparatus, the combination of the vibratory ri'lfle-surface, a pan below the same and an inclined screen extending below the lower end portion of the rifHe-surface and the contiguous end of the pan, pivotally engaged at one end and detachably at the other so that said screen changes its angle of inclination as the rifllesurface vibrates.

6. In gold-separating apparatus, the combination of the vibratory riffle-surface, a stationary pan below the same, an inclined screen pivotally secured at its lower end to the pan and adjustably engaged at its upper end to a vibratory part so that said screen changes its angle of inclination as the riffiesurface vibrates.

7. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of the vibratory riffle-surface and superposed screen, a pan situated below the same, and an inclined screen engaging the lower end of the vibratory parts and the contiguous part of the pan for discharging the tailings from the rifHe-surface clear of the apparatus, one of the engggements of said screen 65 being detacha le.

8. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of the vibratory rifHe-surface and superposed screen, a pan situated below the same and an inclined screen extending between the lower end portion of the screen and the contiguous end of the pan and pivotally engaged at one end and adjustably at the other.

9. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of the vibratory rifflesurface and superposed screen, a pan situated below the same, an inclined screen pivotally secured at its lower end to the pan and adjustably engaged at its upper end to said vibratory parts.

10. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of the vibratory rifile-surface and superposed screen, a pan situated below the same, an inclined screen pivotally secured at its lower end to the pan and adjustably engaged at its upper end to said vibratory parts, and means for transferring the water from the pan to the head of the screen.

11. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of the inclined and longitudinally-vibratable rifiiesurface, an upper screen connected and moving with the same and having its screen-surface extending from the head to the tail thereof an independently and vertically vibrative hopper delivering directly to the head of the screen and having an adjustable gate-controlled opening, a stationary pan below the riflie, a vibrative screen extending from the riffie-tail to the contiguous end of the pan and intermittently changing its angle, and devices having a common actuating provision for positively operating the vibratory parts including the hopper and for transferring the water from the pan to the head of the screen.

12. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of the vibrating rifHe-surface and superposed screen, an independentlyvibrative hopper at the head of the screen a pan below the riflie a screen extending from the riflle-tail to the pan and pivotally attached to one and detachably engaged with the other, and devices for actuating the vibratory parts and for transferring the water from the pan to the head of the superposed screen.

13. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of an inclined vibratory riffie-surface an upper screen connected and moving with said surface and having its screen-surface extending from the head to the tail of the riilie, an independently and verti cally vibrative hopper delivering directly to the head of the screen and having an adjustable gate-controlled opening, a stationary pan below the riffle, a pump having its intake communicating with the interior of the pan and discharging onto the screen, an adjustable connection between the riflie and pump operating means, and provision actuated by the latter for positively jarring the hopper in a vertical direction.

14. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination with a supporting-frame, of an inclined vibratory riflie-surface, an upper screen connected and moving with said surface and having its screen-surface extending from the head to the tail of the riffle, independently and vertically vibratable hopper delivering directly to the head of the screen and having an adjustable gate-controlled opening, a stationary pan below the riifle-surface, a pump and its operating means on the supporting-frame at the head of the tray for delivering water to the latter, an adjustable connection between the operating means and the riffle-surface, and provision actuated by the operating means for verti cally arring the hopper.

15. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination with the supporting-frame, of an inclined riflie-tray with front and rear under plates each having a plurality of notches, links detachably suspended from and directly engaging the frame and engaging said notches, an upper screen within carried by the tray and having its screen-surface extending from the head to the tail of the riffle-tray, an independently and verti cally vibratable hopper delivering to the head of the tray, and having an adjustable gate-controlled opening, a stationary pan below the latter, and devices for actuating the tray, positively vibrating the hopper and for transferring the water from the pan to the superposed screen.

16. In gold separating apparatus, the

combination with the supporting-frame, of an inclined riflle-tray with front and rear detachable pendent hooks having lower inward bends supporting the tray against lateral movement, means adapted for the longitudinal shifting of the points of engagement of said hooks a vertically-vibratable pivoted hopper on the supporting-frame at the head of the tray and'having an adjustable gatecontrolled opening, and contiguously-located devices for positively vibrating said hopper on its pivot independent of the tray.

17. In gold-separating apparatus, the combination with the supporting-frame, of an inclined ri'lI'le-tray with front and rear detachable hooks having lower inward bends supporting the tray against lateral movement, means adapted for the longitudinal shifting of the points of engagement of said hooks, a verticallywibratable hopper held on the supporting-frame by a pivot bearing and stop, the latter serving to limit its downward movement, an adjustable gate controlling the hopper-feed, and contiguously-located devices for positively vibrating said hopper on its pivot independent of the tray.

18. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination with the sup porting-frame, of an inclined riHle-tray with front and rear pivotal suspensions, means adapted for the longitudinal shifting of the points of engagemerit of said suspensions, a tank below the tray containing a removable pan with transverse obstructions, a vertically-vibratable hopper on the supportin -frame, a pump and its operating means also on said frame, closely contiguous to the hopper for vertically vibrating the latter, operating means and the tray, the pump having its intake communicating with the tank and its discharge delivering to the riifle-tray, and an adjustable connection between the said operating means and the tray.

19. In gold separating apparatus, the combination with a longitudinally-vibratable inclined rifHe-surface, of a hopper pivoted at one side and having an adjustable valve-controlled delivery-opening at one of its other sides, a lug on a vertical ho per-face and means for vibrating said rifle-surface and for intermittently contacting with the lug to move said hopper on its pivot, clear said lug and permit an opposite movement of the hopper by gravity to jar the same.

20. In gold separating apparatus, the combination with a supporting-frame and a reciprocatory rifHe-surface, of a hopper supported at its front by a pivot and at its rear by a stop and having a lug, a toggle attached to the riffle-tray and having an adjustable engagement with the frame, a lever pivoted on the latter and connected by a link with the toggle, said lever being adapted to contact with the hopper-lug to vertically vibrate the hopper on its pivot.

21. In gold separating apparatus, the combination with a riflle-surface, of a hopper pivotally supported at its front at the rifflehead and having a rear lug and valve-controlled delivery-opening, a pump having its discharge oppositely located with respect to said delivery-opening, and pump-operating means including a portion for intermittently contacting with the hopper-lug to vibrate the hopper.

22. In gold separating apparatus, the combination with a reciprocatory riffle-sur face, of a hopper pivotally supported at its front at the riffle-head and having a rear lug and valve controlled delivery opening, a pump having its discharge oppositelylocated with respect to said delivery-opening, and pump-operating means having an adjustable connection with the riifle and aportion adapted to intermittently contact into the hopperlug to vibrate the hopper.

23. In gold separating apparatus, the combination with a lime-surface and a pan beneath the same, of a hopper pivotally supported at its front at the rifIle-head and having a rear lug and valve-controlled deliveryopening, a pump having its intake communicating with the pan and its discharge oppositely located with respect to the hopper-delivery opening, and pump-operating means including a portion for intermittently contacting with the hopper-lug to vibrate the hopper.

24. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination with a supporting-frame, of an inclined rifIie-tray, a screen within said riffle-tray, a stationary water-pan below the latter having transverse perforated obstructions, an independently and vertically vibrative hopper at the head of the screen, having an adjustable gate-controlled opening and devices having a 'common actuating provision for operating the trays and positively vibrating the hopper and for transferring the water from the pan to the screen.

25. I11 washing and separating apparatus, the combination with a supporting-frame, of an inclined rifl'le-tray suspended for longitudinal vibration and an upper screen within said riffle-tray, a water-pan below the latter having transverse perforated obstructions, an independently and vertically vibratable hopper delivering to the head of the screen, a pump and devices including a common actuating provision, supported by the sup porting-frame closely contiguous to the hopper and head of the tray, for operating the latter positively and vertically jarring the hop per and for causing the circulation of the Water to and over the screen.

26. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of the vibrating rifIie-surface and superposed screen, a pan below the same, a vibratory screen extending from the tail end of the riflle-surface over the contiguioo ous end of the pan, a transverse pocket contiguous to the rifIie-screen and having a concaved perforated bottom with closed ends, and means for transferring water from the pan to the head of said superposed screen.

27. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of the vibrating rifflesnr face and superposed screen, a pan below the same, a vibratory screen extending from the tail end of the riflle-surface over the contiguous end of the pan and provided with a transverse pocket, having a concaved perforated bottom with closed ends, the tail end of said superposed screen extending beyond said pocket, and means for transferring water from the pan to the head of said superposed screen.

28. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of the vibratory rifile-surface and superposed screen, a stationary pan situated below the same, a vibratory inclined screen extending from the tail end of the riflie-surface over the tail end of the pan and provided with a transverse pocket, the tail end of said superposed screen extending belWlllllllluwtmum.

yond said pocket, a plurality of inclined troughs extending from below said pocket to the tail end of the pan, and means for transferring water from the head of the pan to the head of the superposed screen.

29. In washing and separating apparatus, the combination of the vibratory riffle-surface and superposed screen, a stationary pan situated below the same, a vibratory inclined screen extending from the tail end of the riffle-surface over the tail end of the pan and provided with a transverse pocket, a plurality of adjustably-inclined troughs extending from below said pocket to the tail end of the pan, and means for transferring water from the pan to the head of the superposed screen.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of February, 1898.

J AMES H. LANCASTER.

WVitnesses:

GEO. HUToHIsoN, C. GRIFFITH RoBINsoN. 

